HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez doubled twice and drove in two runs to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-0 victory over the Athletics on Friday night.
The AL West leaders bounced back after an embarrassing 18-3 loss to the Angels on Thursday night behind the strong game from Alvarez, who leads the American League in batting average (.321), home runs (36) and RBIs (90).
His first double made it 2-0 in the fifth and his 28th double of the season, which bounced
off the wall in left field, extended it to 4-0 in the seventh.
Houston starter Hayden Wesneski (3-1) allowed one hit and struck out four in five innings and four relievers completed the three-hitter.
J.T. Ginn (8-8) yielded six hits and three runs while walking two in five innings as the A’s lost their fifth straight.
Isaac Paredes walked to open Houston’s fourth before a double by Daulton Varsho. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Christian Walker.
Nick Allen was on first with two outs in the fifth when Alvarez doubled to center field and Allen slid home just in front of the tag to make it 2-0.
Paredes then singled on a grounder to right field to score Alvarez and push the lead to 3-0.
Donovan Walton singled to give the Athletics their first hit with one out in the third and Henry Bolte walked with two outs in the inning.
Walton walked with two outs in the fifth but the A’s didn’t get another hit until a double by Jeff McNeil with one out in the sixth. There were two outs in the inning when Carlos Cortes singled, but Bennett Sousa struck out Lawrence Butler for the third out.
Houston RHP Hunter Brown (3-3, 3.67 ERA) opposes LHP Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.22) when the series continues Saturday night.
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